Browsed byAuthor: Chris S.

When I was a kid, an exchange student from Malaysia told me the story of how to catch a monkey. Basically, you take a hollowed out gourd, make an opening just big enough for a monkey’s paw to fit through, and place a few nuts inside. The monkey will reach in and grab the treats but his clenched fist is too big to pull it back out through the hole. But, being persistent and a little greedy, the monkey will…

THE IMAGE OF GOD reaching out to Adam with his extended arm and finger, is one of the most recognizable in the world. Perhaps only eclipsed by da Vinci’s Mona Lisa in popularity, the so-called Creation of Adam was painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo in the early 1500’s. There are a lot of things going on in this painting, but notice the body positions of both God and Adam. It looks like the Almighty is reaching…

Comic book superheroes seem to be popular recently, to make an understatement. Clearly, we spend a lot of money on movies, merchandise and spin-offs. But why? What is it about these super-powered caped crusaders and mysterious masked marvels that resonates so deeply within each of us? Maybe it’s the desire to be stronger and greater than we are, to save the day, or just fly around whenever we want. Maybe there’s something more. She doesn’t put on a mask; she takes one off….

Yet again this month (February 2017) I read in the news about another gay wedding cake discrimination lawsuit and a Supreme Court ruling about a florist who refused to serve a gay couple. At first, I thought this was disgusting, that people who simply love one another could be treated so badly. Then I paused and thought about this for a moment. And then I smiled. I smiled a grin of victory and not discrimination. I wasn’t smiling for how…

The United States have become the divided states: Red vs. Blue. This narrative usually comes about during national elections, as a color symbol for the Democrats vs. the Republicans. Unfortunately, with a so-called 2-party system (there are actually many more parties), dualism, or an ‘us versus them’ mentality naturally arises. We often hear of having to choose between the lesser of two evils for our presidential and other candidates. The founding of America was based on the unity of different regional…

“You just don’t believe in Science.” This quote is often heard, particularly regarding the validity of anthropogenic (man-made) climate change. This article will not participate with the climate debate at all, but it does bring up a point on how we view the authority of scientists, and whether science is something provable, or merely an opinion to which we can agree or disagree. Infallibility For centuries, the religious powers felt their viewpoint was incontestable or infallible, and that the fledgling discipline…

In our busy, hectic days, we have to juggle many things, sometimes several at once. This has given rise to the popular term, ‘multi-taksing’ and it seems we have to do this constantly to try to keep up. But as I observe others and look at myself in the process, I’m beginning to think that there is really no such thing; it is impossible to do more than one thing at a time, at least with any reasonable amount of…

An old and obscure Alchemical manuscript came with a specific warning for those who were about to read it: Wisdom is as a flower from which the bee its honey makes and the spider poison, each according to its own nature. This quote appears in Manly P. Hall’s “Secret Teachings of All Ages,” and serves as a stern warning for anyone delving into esoteric practices, and, actually, is a great reminder for all of us, no matter what power we are…

Shiva is the third aspect of the Hindu Trimurti (or Trinity): Brahma: The Creator of Life Vishnu: The Sustainer of Life Shiva: The Destroyer of Life At face value, Shiva might seem to be an evil god, but this transformation is absolutely necessary to begin a new cycle of life. In many Western and Native traditions, there are only two: Father God, the creator, and, Mother Earth, the bearer of life. Actually, the Earth Mother is also the taker of live…

As I recognize 20 years of being on the Web, I thought it would be a good idea to re-boot my site and make it viewable on mobile devices. In 1997 I coded basic HTML by hand and now it is easier than ever to make robust websites. I have chosen to maintain the straightforward approach that the early sites reflected – minimal and functional. This new site will include all the things I’m involved with that I want to share. Some…